2018-2019 Polk Vision Annual Report PV AR 2019_web | Page 22

opportunity for those institutions
transitioning to the use of a common
career center software called
Handshake.
In September 2018 the subcommittee
hosted a first of its kind Countywide
College and Career Fair with 40
businesses participating and over
200 students attending. Plans are
underway for the second annual
event scheduled for September 27,
2019 and once again hosted by Polk
State College Lakeland Campus.
Handshake is a technology platform
focused on connecting students
with work experiences, including
internships. The platform enables
easy access for employers to tap into
a pool of candidates attending any
post-secondary institution joined in
the Handshake network.
P O L K CO U N T Y I N T E R N S H I P
TO O L K I T
CO N N E C T I N G S T U D E N T S
& E M P L OY E R S
A subcommittee of the Polk
Vision Talent Pipeline Team has
been working to facilitate three
collaborative projects to further
bridge learning-to-earning and
positively impact economic
development:
•
•
TOP: The inaugural Countywide College
Career Fair held at the Polk State
College Lakeland Campus.
BOTTOM: Lakeland RISK club Teen
Business Camp high school students
participating in the Polk County Soft
Skills training pilot.
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•
A Countywide College Career Fair
A toolkit for businesses with
common descriptions regarding
internships and other work
experiences to help industry
navigate the complexities
of higher education career
experience placement
Adoption and promotion of a
common software platform to
connect students and business
The subcommittee is also
finalizing a Polk County Guide to
Internships that will define and
align the terms and protocols of
work experiences for both interns
and employers. Scheduled for
publication in Fall 2019, the guide
is intended to streamline the
process for businesses, students
and educational institutions through
the use of common descriptions
regarding internships and other work
experiences.
F I N D I N G TA L E N T T H R O U G H A
CO M M O N U S E P L AT F O R M
The leading early talent network
which unites post-secondary
students and employers is now more
widely available in Polk County due
to the support of the Central Florida
Development Council. Recognizing
that employers are interested in
connecting with students in an
effective and efficient manner,
the CFDC implemented a grant
For more information, visit
joinhandshake.com
ABOVE: In June of 2019, Polk Vision
together with Polk County Career
Academies hosted a professional
development training for Polk County
Public Schools’ Middle School Counselors
at the Bartow History Center.
The diverse feedback regarding
technical and soft skills, credentials, and
employment trends has been invaluable
and impactful. We are using this data to
direct our efforts toward enhancing the
employability skills of our local talent
pools, such as our piloting of the Florida
Ready to Work platform. Additionally, we
share this data with our secondary and
post-secondary education partners to
further help students strategically plan for
meaningful careers.
— ORATHAI NORTHERN, Ph.D., District
Dean of Workforce Education & Economic
Development, Polk State College
A L I G N I N G C A R E E R AC A D E M Y
PAT H WAYS F R O M M I D D L E TO
HIGH SCHOOL
Aligning Career Academy Pathways
from Middle to High School was
developed to provide counselors
with local workforce information and
better prepare them to assist students
with early career planning. More
than 40 middle school counselors
and assistant principals connected
with representatives from 13 area
businesses in roundtable discussions
during this day-long session.
Business leaders provided an
overview of their particular industry
and the types of jobs available at
their workplace. Conversations
included the essential skills for
an entry-level employee, earning
potential, and industry outlook in the
following sectors:
•
•
•
•
•
Agricultural Science and
Construction
Public Service and Medical
Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and
Transportation Logistics
Business, Hospitality and
Entrepreneurship
Technology and Engineering
POLK COUNTY POST-SECONDARY
HANDSHAKE MEMBERS
Florida Southern College
Florida Polytechnic University
Polk State College
St. Leo University
Southeastern University
Webber International University
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